COLUMBIA - Police could stop adult drivers for not wearing a seat belt under a bill that's likely to be on Gov. Mark Sanford's desk by today.

A Senate and House conference committee worked out final language on the bill Tuesday.

"It prevents injuries and will save money for South Carolina," Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, said. Ryberg, the bill's author, led the conference committee.

The Senate quickly adopted the compromise, and the House is expected to do so today, just a day before the mandatory 5 p.m. adjournment Thursday.

Other big bills also in conference committees are facing that deadline, including legislation that clears the way for state retirees to get cost-of-living adjustments in July and a bill that lets bars and restaurants freely pour liquor from large bottles instead of minibottles. Committees handling those issues met Tuesday but crafted no final deals.

The seat belt bill closes a gap in state law.

Police already can stop and ticket unbelted drivers younger than 18 or adults driving with unrestrained children in their cars.

But adult drivers can be ticketed for failing to buckle up only if they have been stopped for another traffic offense.

The compromise sets a $25 fine for seat belt offenses. The fine had been a key difference between the House and Senate.

The Senate wanted a $12 fine but would allow court fees that could raise that to $49.

The conference committee adopted the House's $25 fine with no add-on fees.

That wasn't much of an issue to fight over when "you compare $25 to a life. That issue wasn't worth sticking for," Ryberg said.